What to Buy
Remember to be Safe
M A K ING Y O U R O W N
Water is heavy. Make sure that your rain barrel is
strong enough and that it is securely supported.
Type of Barrel
Make sure it has a secure lid to prevent children and
animals from getting inside.
Almost any container, including garbage cans,
can be made into a rain barrel. However, if the
barrel is not designed to continually hold the
weight it will quickly warp. The best barrels for
making your own water catchment system are
plastic food grade barrels or large wooden
barrels.
Utilizing
Rain Barrels
Top 10 irrigation tips
Make sure all openings are covered with screens or
netting to stop mosquitoes from breeding and debris
from clogging up your barrel or tap.
Don’t drink the barrel water, it could contain
harmful bacteria.
Colours of Food-Grade Barrels
Plastic food-grade barrels are coloured
depending on what they used to contain. The
most common home-made barrel colour is
blue, because it used to hold non-toxics such as
soap. White barrels (previously holding food)
can also be used but will start to grow algae in
direct sunlight. Whatever barrel you use,
remember to clean it thoroughly.
is brought to you by the Regional District of Nanaimo’s
Drinking Water & Watershed Protection Program partners:
Additional Barrels
C o n n e ct i n g m o r e t h a n o n e
District of Lantzville
June 2013 CD 13-1127
Water likes to be as low as possible. You can
connect barrels via a hose at each faucet. The
water will travel between the two barrels,
remaining at equal levels. This is true no matter
how many barrels you choose to connect. Hose
adapters are available at many local hardware
stores selling rain barrels.
Town of Qualicum Beach
Toll Free 1-877-607-4111
or email: [email protected]
www.teamwatersmart.ca
Printed on 100% Post-consumer paper.
Working Towards a Sustainable Future
Why Rain Barrels?
What to Buy
The average house roof can collect 272 litres (60gallons) of
rain for each 9 square metres (100 square feet) of roof, for
every 25mm (1 inch) of rain. That is hundreds of litres of
water you can use in your garden every year.
Installation
The difference between most commercially
available rain barrels is mainly aesthetic.
However, always remember to look for:
Rain barrels generally have the capacity to store about 200L
(50 gallons) of water. Rain water cisterns have the capacity
to store thousands litres of water and are the most effective
means of using harvested water for irrigation all summer
long. Rain barrels, however, are a practical option when
space and funds are limited. Start with barrels to see how
simple and benficial it is to collect rain water. After all, it falls
free from the sky!
Make a base
Metal faucets
Water is heavy. 1 cubic meter weighs 1000 kg at room
temperature. You must build a firm, level base to support
the weight and prevent accidental tipping. As
well, you will want to raise the barrel high enough to fit a
watering can under the faucet. The higher you place your
barrel, the better the water pressure and flow. Cinder
blocks or bricks on a gravel base is easy and safe.
Whatever type of rain barrel you buy, wood or plastic, you
will want to make sure that the faucet is made of metal.
Plastic faucets can easily break off.
Rain water is better for your plants than tap water. It does
not contain any chlorine and its warmer temperature will not
shock the plants.
Cut your downspout
C o mm e r c i a l B a r r e l s
Netting over holes
All openings on your barrel must be covered with thick
netting. Standing water is a breeding ground for
mosquitoes. As well, small objects such as pine needles
can easily clog the faucet.
Before you cut your downspout, measure the height
of the barrel, including the base and add 1 inch. Once you
have fit your barrel underneath, remember to keep the cut off
downspout to reconnect to the house drainage in winter.
Overflow
During heavy rainstorms, your barrel can easily fill and
overflow. The overflow device, located near the top of the
barrel, should be used to redirect excess rainwater away
from your house to ensure groundwater recharge. Rain
barrels should be disconnected from the downspout in
winter.
Secure lid
If you can open the top of your barrel, make sure that it has
a locking lid to prevent children or wildlife from gaining
access. This will prevent contamination and accidental
drowning.
Downspouts
For more information on Rain Water Cisterns, see the
RDN Rain Water Harvesting Guidebook.
Most homes have more than one downspout. To collect
more water either add barrels to each spout or try
blocking the additional spouts for the summer.
Working Towards a Sustainable Future